Boost Fall Flavors with an Indoor Herb Garden

Autumn is denoted by the presence of many things: cozy sweaters, Halloween and Thanksgiving, and a plethora of pumpkin-spiced goodies. It’s the latter fall tradition that we’re most interested in, as fall flavors are as essential to the season as changing leaves.

Fortunately, even as temperatures drop, you can harness your green thumb to boost the common fall flavor profile. An indoor herb garden can give you options that both enhance and complement the warm spices we associate with fall. 

So, if you want to take your pumpkin spice baked and brewed goods to the next level, start an indoor fall herb garden. Whether you’re an herb garden rookie or veteran, we’ve got you covered with some of our tips and tricks!

What is Pumpkin Spice?

You don’t have to be embarrassed if it’s at this very second that you learn pumpkin spice contains no pumpkin — it’s a common misconception. Instead, pumpkin spice mimics the spices used in pumpkin pie.

So you won’t see any orange gourds listed in a pumpkin spice recipe. Instead, you’ll find these ground herbs and spices:

• Allspice
• Cinnamon
• Cloves
• Ginger
• Nutmeg

This collection of ingredients warms any palate. A shake or two of this spice collection can add a flavorful kick to dishes both sweet and savory. 

While you can buy pre-mixed pumpkin spice, using fresh ingredients from home can take the flavor to a whole new level. And because it’s so easy to make, there’s no reason to create your own collection of pumpkin spice mix for your kitchen. (Homemade pumpkin spice mix also makes a great in-the-moment present for friends, neighbors, and coworkers.)

What Fresh Herbs Should You Grow In Your Indoor Garden?

The great thing about an indoor fall herb garden is you’re not limited to the season. Because you have more control over light, soil quality, and watering inside, you don’t need to stick to what’s commonly described as in-season to grow a thriving indoor garden.

That said, it can be nice to keep a collection of indoor-grown herbs on hand to spice up seasonal recipes. An indoor herb garden can focus on holiday cookies, for instance, or provide a buffet of pizza toppings. 

So, as you start your fall indoor herb garden, consider the herbs and spices that will add some zing to autumnal dishes like chili, soup, stew, stuffing, and other hearty, warming dishes. Here are some to consider:

• Anise
• Chives
• Ginger
• Mint
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Sage
• Thyme

These plants all enhance and complement common fall flavors, including pumpkin spice. It’s the ideal collection to boost classic autumn dishes and take them to the next level.

How Do You Start an Indoor Herb Garden for Fall?

When starting an indoor herb garden, you need to consider these conditions:

• Access to sunlight.
• Air and soil moisture.
• Container size.
• Indoor temperatures.

Herbs usually need around six to eight hours of light every day. If you have southern-facing windows, you’re in luck, as that can be an ideal space for growing herbs to sap up the ample sunlight.

However, if you lack southern-facing windows or you need to place your indoor herb garden somewhere direct sunlight isn’t a possibility, you can instead deploy supplemental lighting. You’ll need to double the amount of time the herbs spend basking in supplemental lighting compared to direct sunlight — so expect to keep the lights on for around 12 to 16 hours each day. (A timer or smart home device can help automate that process.)

Your indoor herb garden will also need the right temperatures and humidity. Try to keep your herbs in areas that are at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit but not too close to a direct heat source. That can be difficult to do in a kitchen, but as long as you avoid keeping your garden above a stove or heater, you should be okay.

To improve humidity levels, keep your herbs close together. A humidifier can also add some needed moisture to the air. Placing the herb containers on a pebble tray can improve drainage while also upping the humidity level in that area.

Finally, use containers that are well-draining and fill them with high-quality potting mix. A water-soluble fertilizer can help ensure the herbs have enough nutrients to grow. However, overfertilizing can affect the flavor and scent of your herbs. So, only add fertilizer every two weeks or so.

How to Grow Ginger Indoors

While growing most herbs is pretty straightforward, we wanted to take a moment to give ginger a moment in the spotlight. It’s a key ingredient in pumpkin spice and perhaps the component best equipped for an indoor herb garden.

You won’t need different tools to grow ginger than you would other herbs and spices. Ginger can grow in shallow containers, even, but make sure the pot is at least 12 inches wide

To get the ginger growing, find a ginger root that looks plump, juicy, and with plenty of little nodes sticking out from the skin. If a friend or neighbor is growing a ginger plant, you can likely ask them to slice a few pieces of the ginger bulb for you to plant.

To get started, soak the ginger roots in water overnight. The following morning, cut the ginger into smaller rounds. Each section should have its own bulging bud.

Then fill your grow container until it’s a few inches from the top. Place each ginger root section on top, trying to keep them at least five inches apart. Additionally, keep the buds pointed upwards.

Then cover the buds with another two inches of potting mix. Water until the soil feels moist but not wet.

Ginger prefers warm, humid environments with partial shade. You shouldn’t place your growing ginger in an area that receives lots of direct sunlight.

Ginger tends to grow slowly. Keep the soil moist but not overly wet. It can take up to two months for shoots to appear, but you could see them in as few as a couple of weeks. 

You’ll need to wait a total of three to four months before you can begin harvesting. The plant still hasn’t fully matured at this point, so try not to take any large chunks at this point. (It will take a total of eight months or so for the ginger to mature.)

Once matured, leave at least a couple of inches of rhizome connected to the stalk when harvesting. This will keep the plant alive and producing ginger for your fall meals for years.

Our Favorite Fall Flavor Recipes

There are so many recipes you can craft from your indoor fall herb garden that it’s hard to select only a few of our favorites. With that in mind, here are a few selections to inspire you (and the herbs that will give them a fall flavor boost:

• Autumn root vegetable gratin (uses rosemary and thyme)
• Baked pumpkin spice donuts (uses ginger)
• Best damn chili (uses basil and oregano)
• Butternut squash soup (uses ginger, rosemary, and sage)
• Homemade pumpkin spice latte with real squash (uses ginger and star anise)

Some of these recipes may call for dried spices, but swapping in the fresh variety can serve as the secret ingredient that takes the dish from good to great. When converting a recipe to include fresh herbs, use a ratio of one tablespoon of fresh herbs for every teaspoon of dried one the recipe calls for.

Boost Your Fall Flavors with an Indoor Herb Garden

Fall is a food-forward season. So, make sure you’re employing full flavors by growing your own indoor fall herb garden!